Triumph TF 250-X Motocrosser Finally Revealed in Full

[Hugh Janus]

Covers are finally off Triumph’s 2024 TF 250-X motocross bike. (Triumph/)

After several teases and pre-release looks Triumph has taken the covers off the final, consumer version of its new TF 250-X: the first out-and-out competition off-roader to wear the company’s badge in the modern era.

It’s a case of diving in at the deep end for Triumph, as the motocross market—like the competition itself—is fierce, with big-name rivals from Japan and Europe. To meet those bikes head-on, Triumph claims the TF 250-X has “a class-leading power-to-weight ratio and the most complete specification package ever to launch into the ultracompetitive 250cc motocross market.” Bold words indeed, but the TF 250-X might just live up to them.

Related: Triumph Motocross Bike Engine First Look

Triumph claims the TF 250-X has the best power-to-weight ratio in its class. (Triumph/)

Under development for several years (the plan was officially announced back in 2021) the TF 250-X draws on the knowledge of two big-name hires by Triumph, Ricky Carmichael and Iván Cervantes, who should certainly know whether a bike is competitive or not as well as offering priceless advice. Triumph Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent said: “This bike is 100 percent Triumph, conceived, designed, developed, and manufactured by our world-leading chassis and engine teams, with expert support from our racing champions. We started with a blank sheet of paper and began an all-new ground-up design, including a new engine, new chassis, and new electronics.”

Ricky Carmichael adds: “The TF 250-X is an incredible bike. This is the bike that we set out to build. When you talk about the chassis, the powertrain, the components—it’s the best of everything you could ever want. And whether you’re a professional rider or an amateur rider, you will not be disappointed. I love this bike, it’s been such an honor to be part of a project with such an iconic brand.”

A 250cc DOHC single powers the TF 250-X. (Triumph/)

The engine is a DOHC liquid-cooled 250cc single, of course, with a 78mm bore and 52.3mm stroke. That’s a little longer of stroke and smaller of bore than some rivals, notably KTM’s 250 SX-F which stretches the bore to 81mm and pairs it to an ultrashort 48.5mm stroke (matching the bore/stroke ratio of most MotoGP bikes), though it’s a close match to Kawasaki’s KX250F. Triumph, however, uses a sky-high 14.4:1 compression ratio that’s more extreme than most of its competitors. The pistons are forged aluminum, the valves are titanium, and there are DLC low-friction coatings throughout. Dell’Orto fuel injection feeds the engine, and Triumph claims it has the best power-to-weight ratio in the class—yet it has not shared actual power numbers.

Half of that equation comes down to weight, of course, and in pursuit of keeping the TF 250-X light, Triumph uses magnesium engine covers and an aluminum spine frame, keeping the bike’s total mass down to a mere 229 pounds wet. For comparison, a Yamaha YZ250F comes in at 234 pounds in the same state. That chassis is fitted with KYB suspension at either end, with 48mm fork and piggyback shock. Both the fork and shock are fully adjustable for compression and rebound, including separate high- and low-speed compression adjustment at the rear.

Related: Watch Triumph’s 250cc Motocross Bike in Action

Suspension front and rear is by KYB on Triumph’s TF 250-X. (Triumph/)

Calipers come from Brembo, with a single two-pot front on a Galfer 260mm disc, combined with a 220mm rear. DirtStar makes the aluminum rims, matched to machined alloy hubs.

Braking is handled by Brembo units front and rear. (Triumph/)

Since the initial bike, with an MSRP of $9,995, is essentially a bare canvas for competition tuning, there’s also a wide range of parts to improve it. These include a titanium Akrapovič exhaust that’s claimed to improve power and throttle response as well as weighing a pound less than the standard system while still meeting FIM noise requirements. It doesn’t require an engine remap, either, though another option, the MX Tuner Pro and its associated phone app, allows you to pick between a variety of engine maps and view diagnostics and sensor outputs on your phone. You can also add a launch control module and an Xtrig holeshot device that preloads the fork to reduce the bike’s tendency to wheelie off the line. Pricing for the accessories will be revealed nearer the bike’s projected delivery date of spring 2024.

Triumph will enter the TF 250-X in the FIM Motocross World Championship’s MX2 class as well as the US SuperMotocross World Championship for 2024. (Triumph/)

To match the bike, Triumph is launching a range of Alpinestars clothing and boots, and plans to open specialist Motocross and Enduro Centers in Europe, the USA and Australia—as many as 300 due by the end of 2024. By then, the range is expected to have grown to include a 250cc enduro machine and Triumph’s planned 450cc enduro and motocross bikes.

It won’t be the only newcomer to the scene, either, as Ducati is on the verge of launching its own single-cylinder motocross machine, though unlike Triumph the Italian company is expected to unveil its 450cc offering first, and is competing only in the Italian national championship in 2024, while Triumph is making an immediate entry to the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship’s MX2 class, with sponsorship from Monster Energy and a two-bike, factory-supported team, as well as entering the US SuperMotocross World Championship in 2024.

2024 Triumph TF 250-X Specs

MSRP:	$9,995
Engine:	DOHC, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke single; 4 valves/cyl
Displacement:	250cc
Bore x Stroke:	78.0 x 52.3mm
Compression Ratio:	14.4:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	5-speed/chain
Fuel System:	Dell’Orto EFI
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate; hydraulically actuated
Frame:	Aluminum spine
Front Suspension:	KYB 48mm fork, compression and rebound adjustable; 12.2 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	KYB monoshock, fully adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
Front Brake:	2-piston Brembo caliper, 260mm disc
Rear Brake:	1-piston Brembo caliper, 220 mm disc
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Aluminum spoked; 21 x 1.6 in. / 19 x 1.85 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	80/100-21 / 100/90-19
Rake/Trail:	27.4º/4.6 in.
Wheelbase:	58.7 in.
Seat Height:	37.8 in.
Fuel Capacity:	1.9 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	229 lb.
Contact:	triumphmotorcycles.com

Source

[boboneleg]

It looks really impressive, I hope it lives up to the hype

[Pedro]

13 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

It looks really impressive, I hope it lives up to the hype

It must, only way to enter that class is with a top engine, otherwise it's dead in the water.

 

[boboneleg]

51 minutes ago, Pedro said:

It must, only way to enter that class is with a top engine, otherwise it's dead in the water.

 

Yeah but BMW found out with their 450X that it doesn’t always work out that way

[Pedro]

1 hour ago, boboneleg said:

Yeah but BMW found out with their 450X that it doesn’t always work out that way

BMW never sold it for Motocross though, did they? What I meant is that taking on Honda and Yamaha and KTM and Husqvarna on what is a 250 race bike coming from an unknown brand needs, it needs the engine to be faster and better than the others from stock or else there's no point.

The engine on those BMW 450, as well as the X650 challenge bike were not good at all, were they? All I ever hear about them were serious design and manufacturing flaws. Plus, the 250 motocross class is what, the most demanding class for engines?

[boboneleg]

7 minutes ago, Pedro said:

BMW never sold it for Motocross though, did they? What I meant is that taking on Honda and Yamaha and KTM and Husqvarna on what is a 250 race bike coming from an unknown brand needs, it needs the engine to be faster and better than the others from stock or else there's no point.

The engine on those BMW 450, as well as the X650 challenge bike were not good at all, were they? All I ever hear about them were serious design and manufacturing flaws. Plus, the 250 motocross class is what, the most demanding class for engines?

They definitely used it for Enduro , not so sure about Moto Cross.  Even David Knight couldn't get that bike to work properly. 

[Pedro]

6 hours ago, boboneleg said:

They definitely used it for Enduro , not so sure about Moto Cross.

They wouldn’t have dared, it was a shit engine assembled poorly in the early days of chinese plants, it wouldn’t last one race stint.

Motocross at high levels is brutal on engines, and 250 even more and every horsepower counts, that’s why I think Triumph rocks to even go for it.

[skyrider]

7 hours ago, boboneleg said:

They definitely used it for Enduro , not so sure about Moto Cross.  Even David Knight couldn't get that bike to work properly. 

yeah and he is a great manx rider

[Buckster]

They need an off-road legend to compete with it, is @busapussy available?

[Pedro]

1 minute ago, Buckster said:

They need an off-road legend to compete with it, is @busapussy available?

They might ask Carmichael to teach him. Will be a quick couple of hours, he picks things up quickly.

[Buckster]

9 minutes ago, Pedro said:

They might ask Carmichael to teach him. Will be a quick couple of hours, he picks things up quickly.

He could probably teach Carmichael.

[Pedro]

4 minutes ago, Buckster said:

He could probably teach Carmichael.

Give him a couple of hours with Everts and DeCoster, pretty sure he’ll pick things up quick enough to have Carmichael asking for 1 on 1 tuition. He’s quick like that.

Throw a coffee chat with some left field talent nobody like Jean Michel Bayle and he’ll be top dog, he’ll just take over the whole thing.

[Buckster]

13 minutes ago, Pedro said:

Give him a couple of hours with Everts and DeCoster, pretty sure he’ll pick things up quick enough to have Carmichael asking for 1 on 1 tuition. He’s quick like that.

Throw a coffee chat with some left field talent nobody like Jean Michel Bayle and he’ll be top dog, he’ll just take over the whole thing.

[Pedro]

[Pedro]

1 hour ago, john2smith said:

.

Give him just a few hours alongside legends like Everts and DeCoster, and he'll likely master the ropes so swiftly that even Carmichael might want some exclusive coaching. That's how naturally talented he is.

Arrange a casual coffee session with unconventional talents like Jean Michel Bayle, and watch him dominate the scene effortlessly. He's got that kind of presence.

Smart bot!

[XTreme]

1 hour ago, Pedro said:

Smart bot!

He's history!

[Buckster]

9 hours ago, XTreme said:

He's history!

Shame, he was posting better stuff than busa.

[XTreme]

34 minutes ago, Buckster said:

Shame, he was posting better stuff than busa.

That's not saying much though is it?